THE LOW DOWN: Rafa + Nole to battle for no. 2 ranking - who wants it more?
Okay tennis heads, the stage is set for a blockbuster showdown in Hamburg! Rafael Nadal will face Novak Djokovic in the semifinals with nothing on the line but the no. 2 ranking - that's all folks.
Rafa, who recently acknowledged he could lose his position sooner than later, crushed his old friend and mentor Carlos Moya 6-1, 6-3 and hasn't shown any signs of the Barcelona blisters. Nole was almost as dominating in his 6-2, 6-3 dismissal of Albert Montanes and has looked determined to make his move towards the top.
I don't think we'll see a retirement from Nole after his Monte Carlo fiasco; he's also been very clear that the no. 2 spot is a bump on the road to his ultimate goal of world no. 1. But Rafa has held the spot for a record 147 weeks and he's not giving it up without an epic fight. And to top it all off, the on-court tension between these "card-playing pals" is pretty palpable - which will only add to the drama.
But who will seize the moment and take it?
*VIA DOWNTHELINETENNIS.COM
(images via Getty)
Comment
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Comment by Elaine on May 17, 2008 at 10:26am
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I forgot. Thanks, Mark. Great win for Nadal.
I'm left disappointed,though. Lots of unforced errors by Novak.
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Comment by Mark / The Mayor on May 17, 2008 at 9:28am
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This is one of the best matches I've seen in a long time! Watching Live right now!
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Comment by tennis baller on May 17, 2008 at 8:11am
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thanks - i love that compliment!
do you mean it looks like he's trying too hard or something?
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your blogs are like guilty pleasure.
I've noticed something, not to rag on Novak, but many pictures I see of him 'in action' just look strange. He doesn't look very competent or something.
Rafa, on the other hand, in this pic, looks very in control.
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